Last week his eponymous label - to which he is no longer associated in any way but by name - signed a three-year licensing deal with Ittierre SpA to produce and distribute the John Galliano line for men, women and accessories, but there was no mention of its founder by
WWD
, the trade publication that reported the news.

His antics from 2010 (
making anti-Semitic remarks to a couple in a Paris café
), although not forgotten, have been somewhat overshadowed by the success of his successor at Dior, Raf Simons, and the many other goings-on that have kept the fashion rumour mill turning this year - Hedi Slimane appointed at Saint Laurent and Nicolas Ghesquière's departure from Balenciaga providing the main 'entertainment'.

However, Grace Coddington, the creative director of American
Vogue
and fiery-haired font of all insider fashion knowledge, has revealed that Galliano is indeed plotting his comeback. Admitting in an interview with the
Huffington Post
that Galliano's antics will be a "tough one to get over", the 71-year-old went on to say that the designer "certainly intends to come back - when he's ready."

There's no doubt that when Galliano does return he'll be welcomed with equal amounts of trepidation and delight. Coddington is just one of many influential fashion figures who have almost refused to blast Galliano following his drunken antics, focusing instead on his creative talents as opposed to his tabloid-worthy issues.

But Coddington has also given some hints about what to expect from Balenciaga's former creative director, and her close friend, Nicolas Ghesquière - and it doesn't sound like we should hold our breath for an announcement any time soon. "He will bide his time and come back. He's too brilliant to just disappear," she said. "He's very passionate about what he does. He's not caught up in fashion and celebrity at all."

She also showed her, slightly less enthusiastic, support for Ghesquière's successor, Alexander Wang, saying: I'm sure Alexander Wang will do really well. He's very well-liked. It's an incredibly difficult thing to take over for Nicolas because there are all the old fuddy-duddy people like me digging their heels in. But you've got to embrace it - it's happened. I'm sure the Gucci people thought long and carefully, they didn't just pull him out of a hat. And he fit all their criteria."